[Agriculture] Genetically Modified Crops and Regulations in India

Genetically modified crops (GM crops) are plants used in agriculture,
the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering
techniques. In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the
plant which does not occur naturally in the species like resistance to
certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, herbicides etc.
Genetic Modification is also done to increase nutritional value,
bioremediation and for other purposes like production of pharmaceutical
agents, biofuels etc. More than 10% of the world’s crop lands is
planted with GM crops.Concerns regarding Genetically Modified CropsMany believe that food
on the market derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human
health than conventional food. However, opponents have objected to GM
crops on several grounds, including environmental concerns, safety of
GM foods, the business interests behind GM crops, intellectual property
laws etc.Arguments in favor of GM Crops:The
proponents, argue that the GM technologies have been around for about
15 years and they have been in use across the world including in
countries such as Brazil and China. During a visit to India in March
2005, Norman Borlaug – widely regarded as the father of the Green
Revolution – supported producing genetically modified (GM) food to
eradicate hunger from the world. “It is better to die eating GM food
instead of dying of hunger,” said the Nobel laureate, who passed away
in 2009.

Former prime minister, Manmohan Singh, saw
biotechnology as key to food security and warned against succumbing to
“unscientific prejudices”.

“The concerns over their (GM crops)
perceived risks should be addressed by following internationally
accepted procedures for assessing safety parameters. ICAR, which is
involved in developing useful products and technologies in this field,
must contribute to the public discourse and provide clarity on this
sensitive issue,” – President Pranab Mukerjee.

Indian
intelligence agency names anti-GM groups such as Greenpeace India and
Gene Campaign as one of the many “anti-national” foreign-funded NGOs
hampering India’s economic progress.

Agriculture scientists
from research institutions including IARI, ICAR and various
Universities demanding “field trials” for GM crops, arguing that
“confined field trials are essential for the evaluation of productivity
performance as well as food and environmental safety assessment”.

A
group of prominent scientists had met under ‘father of green
revolution’ MS Swaminathan at National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (
NASA) and issued a 15-point resolution in favour of GM crops.

“A
brinjal crop normally requires up to 30 sprays of insecticides. This
goes into the human consumption indirectly. If we grow and consume Bt
brinjal, we will consume some of the genes that have been built into the
seeds to make the crop pest- and herbicide-resistant. Ultimately, we
have to see which of the two is less harmful for consumption” – S.S.
Gosal, Director of Research, Punjab Agriculture University.

Arguments against GM crops:Organisations
such as Greenpeace argue that the GM crops don’t yield better results,
but push the farmers into debt. They lose their sovereign right over
seeds as they are forced to buy GM seeds and technologies from
multinational corporations. The increasing incidence of suicide by
farmers cultivating Bt cotton is cited as an example of the perils of
GM crops in a country such as India. Besides the suspect merits of GM
crops, what the opponents also say is that once they are released into
the environment, it’s irreversible.Regulatory Mechanisms in IndiaThe
top biotech regulator in India is Genetic Engineering Appraisal
Committee (GEAC). The committee functions as a statutory body under the
Environment Protection Act 1986 of the Ministry of Environment &
Forests (MoEF). It was earlier known as Genetic Engineering Approval
Committee. Under the EPA 1986 “Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import,
Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered
Organisms or Cells 1989″, GEAC is responsible for granting permits to
conduct experimental and large-scale open field trials and also grant
approval for commercial release of biotech crops.The Rules of
1989 also define five competent authorities i.e. the Institutional
Biosafety Committees (IBSC), Review Committee of Genetic Manipulation
(RCGM), Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), State
Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC) and District Level Committee
(DLC) for handling of various aspects of the rules.Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)

The
Committee shall function as a Statutory Body under the Ministry of
Environment & Forests for approval of activities involving
large-scale use of hazardous living microorganisms and recombinants in
research and industrial production from the environmental angle as per
the provisions of rules 1989.

The Committee shall also be
responsible for approval of proposal relating to release of genetically
engineered organisms and products into the environment including
experimental field trials as per the provisions of Rules, 1989.

The
Committee shall be responsible for approval of proposals involving the
use of living modified organism falling in the risk category Ill and
above in the manufacture/import of recombinant Pharma products or where
the end product of the recombinant Pharma products per se is a living
modified organism.

The Committee may co-opt other
members/experts to the GEAC in accordance with the provisions of Section
4, para 3 of the Rules, 1989 as necessary.

The Committee may
also appoint subgroups/sub-committees/expert committee to undertake
specific activities related to compliance of biosafety.

One third members of the GEAC will constitute the quorum for convening the meeting.

The
members of the GEAC will be required to sign a ‘Statement of
Declaration of Independence’ and ‘Statement of Confidentiality’ (as per
enclosed proforma).

The Committee shall function for a period of three year from the date of issue of this notification.

With
the approval of the Chairman GEAC, if required, representative of
other Ministries and other experts may be invited as ‘Special Invitees’
to participate in the meeting of the GEAC depending on the issues to
be discussed.

Major companies interested in Genetically
Modified crops in India include Monsanto India, Mahyco and BASF. The
industry body — Association of Biotech Led Enterprises- Agriculture
Group (ABLE-AG) wants a progressive push to the march of GM technology
in India.Genetically Modified Crops in IndiaGM Crops : Courtesy Hindu Business LineThe
country has yet to approve commercial cultivation of a GM food crop.
The only genetically modified cash crop under commercial cultivation in
India is cotton.Bt CottonFor the
time being, the only genetically modified crop that is under
cultivation in India is Bt cotton which is grown over 10.8 million
hectares. Bt cotton was first used in India in 2002.Bt BrinjalThe
GEAC in 2007, recommended the commercial release of Bt Brinjal, which
was developed by Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) in
collaboration with the Dharward University of Agricultural sciences and
the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. But the initiative was blocked
in 2010.Controversies and Moratoriums associated with GM Crops in India – Timeline

2002 – Bt cotton introduced in India.

2006 – Activists filed a PIL against GM crops in the Supreme Court.

2010
– The then environmental minister Jairam Ramesh blocked the release of
Bt Brinjal until further notice owing to a lack of consensus among
scientists and opposition from brinjal-growing states. No objection
certificates from states were made mandatory for field trials.

2012
– Parliamentary standing committee on agriculture, in its 37th report
asked for an end to all GM field trials in the country.

2013
July – New crop trials have been effectively on hold since late 2012,
after a supreme court-appointed expert panel recommended suspension for
10 years until regulatory and monitoring systems could be strengthened.
Though the SC panel suggested moratorium on GM trails, there was no
official verdict from the Supreme Court on this issue.

2014
– Her successor, Veerappa Moili cleared the way for trails. (NB: Two
of Manmohan Singh’s own environment ministers had stalled GM trials
earlier, but Veerappa Moily took an opposite stand and the process of
approving the one-acre field trials restarted.)

2014 July –
21 new varities of genetically modified (GM) crops such as rice, wheat,
maize and cotton have been approved for field trials by the
NDA government in July 2014. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
(GEAC) — consisting mostly of bio-technology supporters — rejected
just one out of the 28 proposals up for consideration. Six proposals
were rejected for want of more information.

There are as many as 20 GM crops already undergoing trails at various stages.